Multifunctional furniture

ABSTRACT

A multifunctional furniture item comprising four rectangular ( 5, 6, 7 ) cushioned blocks ( 1, 2, 3, 4 ) each individually covered and interconnected by three hinges. The said hinges pivot semicircularly and are positioned on alternate long rectangular sides between the blocks. Manipulation of the said structure producing multiple functions, the default being an occasional table/footrest formed with all hinges closed, the four blocks overlying each other, the lowermost flat on the floor and the uppermost serving as an occasional table one way, or a footrest the other. The cover of the table&#39;s uppermost block ( 4 ) incorporating a durable material ( 8 ) for a hard wearing and wipe clean table surface. Additionally, a solid tabletop ( 10 ) is secured to the default when required.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to furniture with a multiple use for home andleisure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modern lifestyle demands versatility. Living spaces are getting smallerwhile peoples demands on that space increase. Multifunctional furniturehas for some time met that design challenge yet still needs to evolvemaximising the use of space in the home thus giving more pleasure tothose that live there.

Most multifunctional furniture designs incorporate a framed structureeither of tubular or wooden construction, others have a more lightweightform with cushioned sections that hinge together. The present inventionrelates to the later category with the objective of improving what hasbeen done before but also introducing new practical functions into thesaid furniture.

Examples of prior art found to relate closely to this invention would beU.S. Pat. No. 4,293,965 A (Hrubec) which discloses a four piece threehinged structure convertible into numerous seating arrangements and amattress. Also GB 2009594 A (Wentelbed) a three piece two hingedfootstool/mattress with fabric covers to all sections and retainedwithin a fabric cover. The above examples have a combined appeal fortheir compactness and being supposedly light weight and easy to storeaway. US (Hrubec) contains a useful number of configurations but theystill only amount to two basic functions, seating and a mattress. Someof the functions such as the two seated floor sofa require reinforcingmembers to be added to give the backrest the necessary rigidity for itto be freestanding. In the case of GB (Wentelbed) only the basicfunctions of a mattress and footstool are provided.

It is the object of the present invention then to provide one piece offurniture that is more compact, easy to use and versatile than allothers that have gone before it. Rather than just providing the basicfunctions, seating a bed and a footrest, several highly practical tableshave also been incorporated. Efforts have been made to keep theinvention's operation as simple as possible thus no difficult or heavymanoeuvres are needed. Neither do any of the functions requireadditional reinforcing members to function correctly. The intention isfor a daily rather than occasional use thus the narrow unobtrusiverectangular shape of the coffee table/footrest is easily walked aroundin the centre of a confined room making wall space or transferral fromroom to room unnecessary. The default function is a footrest designedwith a height to extend the seating area of the average sofa. This is toprovide optimum comfort for up to three people using a sofa and to avoidproblems related to poor blood circulation. All the other functionsexpand out from this form. The default form is lightweight enough forone adult to carry and firm enough to be stored vertically out of theway.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a multifunctionalfurniture item comprising four rectangular cushioned blocks eachindividually covered and interconnected by three hinges. The said hingespivot semi-circularly and are positioned on alternate long rectangularsides between the blocks. Manipulation of the said structure producingmultiple functions, the default being an occasional table/footrestformed with all hinges closed, the four blocks overlying each other, thelowermost flat on the floor and the uppermost serving as an occasionaltable one way, or a footrest the other. The cover of the table'suppermost block incorporating a durable material for a hard wearing andwipe clean table surface. Additionally, a solid tabletop being securedto the default when required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A specific embodiment of the design will now be described by way of anexample with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 gives a perspective view of the occasional table with durablesurface area, also one part of the solid tabletop that attaches to it.

FIG. 2 gives a perspective view of the rectangular footrest with theslip cover that fits over it.

FIG. 3 gives a perspective view of the low level table with durablesurface area, also both parts of the solid tabletop that attaches to it.

FIG. 4 gives a perspective view of the floor sofa with self supportingbackrest.

FIG. 5 gives a perspective view of the bench style seat, the backrestresting against a suitable object.

FIG. 6 gives a perspective view of the bed mattress.

BEST METHOD FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference now should be made to the drawings in which the same referencenumerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate thesame or similar components.

Referring to FIG. 1 this item comprises four equally proportioned highdensity cushioned blocks 1,2,3,4, each individually covered andinterconnected by three upholstered hinges 5,6,7. The said hinges pivotsemi-circularly and are positioned on alternate long rectangular sidesbetween the blocks. Manipulation of the said structure produces multiplefunctions, the default being an occasional table/footrest formed byhinges 5,6,7, remaining closed, blocks 1,2,3,4, overlying each other, 4being flat on the floor and 1 serving as an occasional table. The coverof 1 incorporating a durable material 8 for a hard wearing and wipeclean table surface. Additionally, a solid tabletop 10 being secured tothe occasional table (detail not shown). FIG. 2 illustrates that byturning the occasional table alternate way up a comfortable footrest isprovided block 1 resting on the floor 4 serving as the footrest. Thefootrest height and it's rectangular shape extend the seating area ofthe average sofa thus giving the most favourable sifting position to upto three people equally. Also shown in FIG. 2 is the slip cover 12 whichfits over the footrest. The slip cover can have a shoulder strapattached to it, (detail not shown) thus becoming a carry case.

FIG. 3 demonstrates that by closing hinges 5,7, and opening 6 to thefull a low level table is produced, blocks 1,2, on one side 3,4 restingflat beside them. The covers of 2,3, comprise in part of a durablematerial 9 thus offering a hard wearing and wipe clean table surface.FIG. 3 also illustrates both parts of the solid tabletop 10,11, beingsecurable to the low level table (detail not shown). The table's twoparts 10,11, join using a suitable method.

It is shown in FIG. 4 that by operating hinge 5 and compactly pivotingblocks 2,3,4, they stand upright against the floor to form a floor sofa;block 1 providing the floor seating and 2,3,4, a perfectly angledergonomic backrest. The cushioned blocks of the backrest have a highdensity to support several adults without the need of any reinforcingmembers or additional supports being added. An identically formed floorsofa is achievable through the same procedure, opening hinge 7, andarranging 3,2,1, together as above.

FIG. 5 then represents a bench style seat easily formed by closinghinges 5,6, leaving 1 resting on the floor 2,3 overlying it. Hinge 7 isoperated enabling 4 to pivot upright and rest against a suitable objectas a backrest. It is noted an identical form is achieved alternate sideup when the blocks are arranged as above but conversely, block 1 servingas the backrest.

Finally, the full extension of the blocks is shown in FIG. 6 whichdemonstrates a full sized bed mattress. This is produced by openinghinges 5,6,7, enabling 1,2,3,4, to lie flat across the floor providingthe sleeping area.

Although some of the preferred embodiments of the present invention havebeen disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the general scope and spirit of theinvention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

1. A multifunctional furniture item comprising four rectangularcushioned blocks each individually covered and interconnected by threehinges, the said hinges pivot semi-circularly and are positioned onalternate long rectangular sides between the blocks, manipulation of thesaid structure producing multiple functions, the default being anoccasional table/footrest formed with all hinges closed, the four blocksoverlying each other, the lowermost flat on the floor and the uppermostserving as an occasional table one way, or a footrest the other, thecover of the table's uppermost block incorporating a durable materialfor a hard wearing and wipe clean table surface, additionally, a solidtabletop being secured to the default when required.
 2. Amultifunctional furniture item as in claim 1 wherein a low level tableis produced by operating the middle hinge in a semi-circle allowing theupper two blocks to rest flat on the floor attached to, and beside, thelower two blocks, the covers of the upper two blocks incorporating adurable material as a hard wearing and wipe clean table surface, inaddition, an attachable two part solid tabletop being securable to thelow level table, the solid tabletop being added when required, one partto the occasional table of claim 1 and two parts to this low leveltable, when used together the two parts are joined.
 3. A multifunctionalpiece of furniture as in claim 1 which forms a self-supporting floorsofa by operating the lowermost hinge of the default in claim 1 andcompactly pivoting the upper three blocks to stand upright against thefloor; the lowermost block providing the seating and the upper threeblocks an ergonomic backrest, the cushioned blocks of the backresthaving a high density rigid enough to support several adults without theneed of any reinforcing members or additional supports being added, anidentically formed sofa being achievable using the same procedure asabove but starting with the default of claim 1 the other side up.
 4. Amultifunctional furniture item substantially as described herein withreference to FIGS. 1-6 of the accompanying drawings.